Actress Juliette Lewis (Natural Born Killers) Starts Rock Band Juliette and the Licks

Taking her musical cues from rocker 80's ladies like Joan Jett, Patti Smith and Pat Benatar, just to name a few, renowned, or possibly infamous, actress Juliette Lewis (probably best known for her role opposite Woody Harrelson in Natural Born Killers) has started a band. Juliette and the Licks released their first album, an EP titled "...Like a Bolt of Lightning," in October of 2004.

Before their first album was even available in stores, the band's explosive live show could be seen on the side stage of 2004's Vans Warped Tour and the band itself was being compared by music reviewers and critics to Iggy and the Stooges and Van Halen.

The band, comprised of Juliette at the helm, Todd Morse and Kemble Walters on guitar, Jason Womack on bass and Jason Morris on drums, takes the words of reporters, reviewers and critics all with a grain of salt, so to speak. The criticism, both positive and negative, fuels the band's writing and their stage performances.

Their second studio release, "You're Speaking My Language," which took inspiration primarily from Patti Smith and the Pretenders, hit stores May 17, 2005, only eight months after "...Like a Bolt of Lightning," proving possibly that the title of that first EP was a prediction of how their career would progress.

And if you are wondering, Juliette plans to balance time between her music and acting careers so if you have been a fan of her whispy bad-girl ways, you won't have to wait. She's not planning to put one on hold to pursue the other. If you haven't heard The Licks yet, but are already a fan of their peers such as the Distillers or Sleater-Kinney, or even of their predecessors, definitely give them a listen. You should find yourself pleasantly surprised.